Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday that Pavol would be part of the umpire crew for the Marlins-Brevs series later this week in Atlanta. Today we will discuss about Jen Pawol First female umpire to make MLB history: Let’s hear it for Jen Pawol
Jen Pawol First female umpire to make MLB history: Let’s hear it for Jen Pawol
Jennifer Pavol (born 29 December 1976) is an American baseball umpire that currently works in Minor League Baseball (MILB), and is in a call-up list for Major League baseball. She is only the seventh woman working as a professional baseball umpire. On August 9, 2025, she is scheduled to start her MLB as an umpire appearing at the Doubleheader Games between Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves at Truest Park in Atlanta. In doing this, she will ever become the first woman for an MLB game. She is going to be the plate umpire of the house on Sunday, August 10.
First female
Pavol will UMP to UMP, including both ends of Saturday’s doubleheader (it will be on the first basis in the opener and the third base in the nightcap; both will be available with a MLB.TV membership) as well as concluding the series on Sunday (MLB.TV free at 1:35 pm), when it will be behind the house plate. The doubleheader was required to add the fifth umpire to the crew, as each home-plate umpire leaves the second game that they are not working.
Pavol will be the first woman of the umpire in a regular season major league game, but away from before with those aspirations.
Pam Postema made it as MLB Spring Training Games in 1988-89, but never found a true callup. Both Christine Wrain and Riya Cortacio were updated in minors, but stopped at Double-A through their way. All three have served as the patron and sources of inspiration for Pavol with their pro ball path, which began in 2016 in a fraudulent level Gulf Coast League.
Although the numbers have increased slightly, today only eight women are umpiring in minors, for which Pavol represents a beacon of hope and progress.
Across the board, baseball is shouting for Pavol throughout the way. In a zoom call on Thursday, Pavol talked about a memorable conversation with Adam Venrite, while the Cardinals Pitcher was on a rehabilitation assignment a few years ago.
“This was my first year in Triple-A, and I was going to check the pitcher for foreign substances,” said Pavol. “And I was on the plate, and he is pitching, so I got to do my work. And I went to him to check the pitcher. And with the bat right, he said,, Jane, I just want you to know that I have daughters, and I think it’s so good, and I am ready for you, and good luck.”
Umpire to make MLB history
In 2024, she became the first female umpire since 2007, and the third woman, who works in the MLB Spring Training Game.
Pavol told Mark Burman of AP in 2024, “This is a viable career that becomes a professional umpire -man and women, girls and boys.”
Thanks to his hard work, Pavol became one of the only 17 Triple-A umpires, which was eligible to replace for a large-League game. But for those who know him, it was only a matter of time until he received the phone.
“She is going to make it,” Jonathan Ortega, who served as the head of the crew of Pavol in 2023, told Britney Ghiroli of Athletic last year. “I don’t know if it will be one or two years later, but I think she is going to do so.”
Let’s hear it for Jen Pawol
“I know about gravity. I know about magnitude,” Pavol said, who is expecting about 30 friends and family in his first game on Saturday. “I believe that I am going to be a very good steward and representative for young girls and women, and boys and men.”
Pavol essentially referred to his career in Pro Ball as a “10-year interview process” for the occasion. But with only 76 MLB umpires, the opening at the highest level is between a few more distance. To earn a full-time role, most who make it in Triple-A have to wait to retire to get their shot.
As one of the 17 Triple-A umpires for replacement in MLB Games, Pavol waited for her turn like everyone in her position because she loved umpiring very much. He paid his dues for a decade in a minor leagues, such as many of his male predecessors, just for a chance on the biggest platform.
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